When you catch yourself keeping a second, mental list of what you “really” need to do, that’s a sign you don’t trust your plan for the day. Red alert!
Productivity Post Archive
Are You Always Putting What’s Urgent Before What’s Wildly Important?
Are you stuck putting off an important project because a horde of urgent tasks keep jumping the queue? You really want to work on that project—it would make such a difference—but when you sit down to work on it, there’s other stuff you need to do first. Other stuff...
Will You Lose Everything with an Erasable Pen?
An erasable pen is flexible and professional. If you accidentally erase your entire planner, here’s how you can get it back.
How to Organize Your Thoughts with a Mind Map
A mind map helps you organize your thoughts and find gaps in your understanding.
Write It Down and Forget About Forgetting It
We can’t remember everything we need to do, nor do we need to. Your trusted system has dedicated space for everything you need.
How to Protect Work Tasks with a Separate OmniFocus Document
If you need to keep work and tasks separate, OmniFocus gives you a (limited) option. Here’s how to keep work tasks secure with a standalone, unsynced document.
How to Plan Your Day with Just a Calendar
Some of the most successful people don’t use a task list. Instead, they schedule everything on the calendar.
How to Limit the Notifications on your iPhone
Notifications are a two-edged sword. Here’s how to configure notifications to stay connected without completely destroying your focus.
How to Be Reminded of a Task at Just the Right Time
Setting a reminder lets a task jump off the page at the right time. This lets you focus on what you’re doing without forgetting about what’s coming.
How to Scan Documents with PDFScanner
Few companies know how to make beautiful software and functional hardware. Take the Epson ES–500W scanner, for example. It’s a workhorse of a document scanner—almost as good as the Fujitsu ScanSnap it replaced—but the software that comes with it leaves something to be...
How to Get Unstuck with an Icebreaker Task
If you’re having trouble getting started on a task, look for the smallest action you can take to break the ice. Working on a project gets easier once it’s been started.
Which Planner Layout is Right For You?
We need our planner to track some combination of tasks, appointments, and notes. Here’s a look at some common planner layouts to suit different needs.